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SURKHET, Sept 25: Bire Tamata, 65, had his wife Mandari by his side to share his life of deprivation. But in August, she lost her life to diarrhea. “Last year, my daughter-in-law passed away. A week after that, my one-year-old grandson died. This year, my wife left me,” he told journalists in August, adding, “What remains for me to live anymore?”
One-and-a-half month after that conversation, this scribe decided to catch up with Tamata again. Harka Prasad Sharma, who teaches at the local Janasarokar School, agreed to fix an interview. As soon as the topic of Dashain was raised in the telephonic conversation, Tamata choked.
“All those who would have received tika and jamara from me have left. Dashain no longer means anything to me, hajoor!” he said. His son, who left home two years ago, looking for employment, is yet to return home. Today, Tamata has a grandson for company. Tamata´s plight represents those of the many Jajarkot residents who have similar stories to share. Many have lost their parents; others their children.
According to figures provided by District Administration Office, 293 households in Jajarkot will not observe Dashain this year. These households are mourning for their dear ones, who lost their lives to the diarrhea and cholera epidemic.
In Thana village of Suwanauli, the death of Kalup Luwar, 40, has left his wife, elderly parents and three daughters in deep anguish. Nirmala, 11, one of Luwar´s daughters, said in a telephonic conversation, “After our father´s death, we are gripped by many problems. No one is thinking about Dashain.” Nirmala said her mother has stomach ailments, her grandparents are too old, and sisters too young. The responsibility of the whole family has fallen on Nirmala´s shoulders.
The epidemic claimed lives in all 30 VDCs of the district. Meanwhile, the government is yet to act on its promise of providing relief supplies in Jajarkot. The government has announced a financial package of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000, apart from 10 kilograms of rice, and a kilogram of salt to each affected family. While only 166 families have received the monetary relief, none have received the promised rice and salt.
Chief District Officer Khyam Bahadur Tahap said his office has received 1,660 quintals of rice and 166 quintals of salt for the purpose. But distribution is yet to begin. He attributed this to the difficulty in identifying the affected families. Since most affected are Dalit families, they had pinned a lot of hopes on relief supplies.
They are now dejected that the promised relief supplies have not reached them even two months after it was announced. “The radio said a long time ago that we would get rice and salt. But we are yet to receive anything,” said Parbat Badi, 45, of Jhapra who lost his wife.
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